Ever since the premiere of the first episode of Star Trek: The Original Series in 1966, the entertainment world has been transformed by this pioneering franchise. Star Trek has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions worldwide, expanding into a vast universe that includes multiple television series, feature films, comics, and a wide array of merchandise. With such an extensive collection of content, it can be challenging to navigate the Star Trek universe in either chronological or release order without missing a beat. To help you embark on this epic journey, we've crafted this comprehensive guide to ensure you don't miss any of the adventures.

In the past, keeping up with all the Star Trek shows and movies was a daunting task. However, Paramount+ has streamlined the process by becoming the central hub for nearly all Star Trek content, past, present, and future.

So, let's dive into the final frontier together and discover how you can catch up on the adventures of iconic characters like Kirk, Picard, Janeway, Sisko, Spock, Pike, Archer, Burnham, and many more who have made Star Trek a beloved saga over the past 56 years.

Rest assured, the following guide provides a mostly spoiler-free chronological timeline, ensuring you can enjoy the journey without compromising the excitement of future plot points. If you prefer to experience Star Trek as it was originally released, you'll find that list provided as well.

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How to Watch Star Trek in Chronological OrderHow to Watch Star Trek by Release OrderHow to Watch Star Trek in Chronological Order

1. Star Trek: Enterprise (2151-2155)

Star Trek: Enterprise is the earliest entry in our list, set a century before the adventures of Kirk and Spock in Star Trek: The Original Series. Airing from 2001 to 2005, the series follows Scott Bakula as Captain Jonathan Archer, commanding the Enterprise NX-01, Earth's first starship capable of reaching warp five. This show offers a fascinating look at a crew without the advanced technology seen in later series, exploring first contacts with beloved alien species and more.

Star Trek: EnterpriseUPNSep 26, 2001### Where to Watch

Powered byBuyBuyBuyMore### 2. Star Trek: Discovery: Seasons 1 and 2 (2256-2258)

Navigating the timeline can get tricky here, as the first two seasons of Star Trek: Discovery occur before Star Trek: The Original Series, while seasons 3, 4, and 5 venture into the far future. For a chronological viewing, you'll need to jump between series and movies. Star Trek: Discovery is set a decade before the original series and stars Sonequa Martin-Green as Michael Burnham, a Starfleet Commander whose actions inadvertently spark a war between the United Federation of Planets and the Klingon Empire, leading to her court-martial and reassignment to the U.S.S. Discovery.

Star Trek: DiscoveryParamount+Jan 7, 2018### Where to Watch

Powered byBuyBuyBuyMore### 3. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2259-TBD)

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds also takes place before Star Trek: The Original Series and is introduced in Star Trek: Discovery with the appearance of Captain Christopher Pike, played by Anson Mount, in its second season. Pike, originally seen in the unaired pilot "The Cage" of The Original Series, is given a new narrative here, exploring his story alongside other familiar faces from the original series and new characters aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701.

Star Trek: Strange New WorldsParamount+May 5, 2022### Where to Watch

Powered byBuyBuyBuyMore### 4. Star Trek: The Original Series (2265-2269)

Star Trek: The Original Series, created by Gene Roddenberry, is the cornerstone of the franchise. Despite being canceled after three seasons due to low ratings, it gained immense popularity in syndication, laying the groundwork for the expansive Star Trek universe. Starring William Shatner as Captain James T. Kirk and Leonard Nimoy as Spock, the series famously explores the mission of the starship Enterprise to "explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before."

Star TrekNBCSep 8, 1966### Where to Watch

Powered byBuyBuyBuyMore### Bonus: Star Trek’s Kelvin Timeline (2009’s Star Trek, Star Trek Into Darkness, and Star Trek Beyond)

Where to Watch Star Trek: Hulu, Paramount+

Where to Watch Star Trek Into Darkness: Paramount+

Where to Watch Star Trek Beyond: Paramount+

The 2009 film Star Trek, directed by J.J. Abrams, rebooted the series with a new timeline called the Kelvin Timeline. While these films can be watched independently, they contain references to The Original Series that enhance the viewing experience, including a notable appearance by Leonard Nimoy reprising his role as Spock.

5. Star Trek: The Animated Series (2269-2270)

Following the success of The Original Series in syndication, Gene Roddenberry brought back the beloved characters in Star Trek: The Animated Series. Airing from 1973 to 1974, this series continued the adventures of the Enterprise crew in animated form, expanding on their journeys through the Milky Way galaxy.

Star Trek: The Animated Series [1973]NBCSep 8, 1973### Where to Watch

Powered byBuyBuyBuyMore### 6. Star Trek: The Motion Picture (2270s)

Star Trek: The Motion Picture marked the return of the The Original Series crew to the big screen. Initially facing resistance from Paramount Pictures, the film eventually came to fruition after the success of Close Encounters of the Third Kind. In this film, Admiral Kirk retakes command of the refitted U.S.S. Enterprise to confront a mysterious alien energy cloud named V'Ger.

Star Trek: The Motion PictureParamount PicturesDec 7, 1979PG

Powered byRent/BuyRent/BuyRent/BuyMore### 7. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (2285)

After the lukewarm reception of the first film, Paramount removed Gene Roddenberry from the sequel's production, leading to Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. This film, often considered the best in the franchise, pits Admiral Kirk and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise against the vengeful Khan Noonien Singh, played by Ricardo Montalban, who seeks revenge after being exiled by Kirk in the original series episode "Space Seed."

Star Trek II: The Wrath of KhanParamount PicturesJun 4, 1982PG

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